Road marker



Feb. 7, 193s. J R, @BRIEN 1,896,641v

- ROAD MARKER Filed-Feb. 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet l J. R. OBRIEN F eb. 7, 1933.

ROAD MARKER Filed Feb. 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 7, 1933. R @BRIEN 1,896,641

ROAD MARKER Filed Feb. 4, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3' Feb. 7, 1933.

J. R. OBRIEN4 ROAD MARKER Filed Feb. 4, 1927` 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ,Patented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES RAYMOND OBRIEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T RUBBER PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF DOVER, DELAWARE ROAD MARKER Application led February 4, 1927. Serial No. 165,802.

This invention relates to improvements in road markers particularly adapted for insertion into a pavement for use in connection with vehicle as well as pedestrian traiiic, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means for anchoring or securing the marker in the pavement with the top of the 'marker substantially iush with the upper surface of the adjacent portion of the pacement.

A. further object is to provide an improved marker of this character which may be employed as a pavement joint to extend lengthwise of the pavement or road bed and thereby provide a weakening strip or breakage point so that the pavement will readily eX- pand and contract and at the same time will be prevented from cracking or breaking transversely of or across the pavement.

rllo the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new and useful objects as will appear, the invention vconsists in the features of novelty in substantially the'construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more `fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invent-ion and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the marker in position. Y

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the supporting plate and anchor member vfor the marker element.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one complete marker element.

Figures 5 to 9 are sectional views diagramniatically illustrating the method of constructing the marker element.

Figure 1() is a detail perspective view similar to Figure 4, showing a plurality of :marker elements secured to a single supporting base plate and anchor.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 of another form of the invention.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective view similar to that shown in Figure 11, illustrating a single marker element secured to the supporting base.

Figure 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 13-13, Figure 15.

Figure 14 is a vertical sectional view takenv on line lll-14, Figure 15.

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view taken on line15-15, Figure 13. b

Figure 16 is a top view partly in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away of the form of marker shown in Figure 10, with the marker in position in the pavement..

Figure 17 is a plan view partly in elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, showing the use of this improved marker as a dividing or weakening strip extending lengthwise of a pavement.

Figure 18 is a det-ail sectional view taken on line 18-18, Figure 17.

Figure 19 is a view taken on line 19-19, Figure 18. l

Figure 20 is a perspective view partly broken away and partlyv in section showing the dividing or weakening strip arranged in a pavement.

Figure 2l. is a view similar to Figure 20 of another form of the invention.

Figure 22 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22-22, Figure 21.

Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 22 of another form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 1, the numeral 30 designates generally a supporting base or anchor plate which may be of any desired size and configuration according to the shape of the marker element which is\to be secured thereto, and this plate or member is constructed of any suitable material preferably of metal having a web or iange 31 dependingwfrom the lower face thereof.

rFhe web or flange 31 may be of any desired size and preferably extends for the entire length of the plate 30, the web being preferably located centrally of the plate 30.

A marker element 32 is provided and may be constructed of any suitable material which will withstand considerable wear.

The element proper may be formed of resilient materia-l of any desired degree of resiliency according to the nature of the use to which the marker is to be put.

rlhis element may be formed in several ways.

As shown in Figure 5, the element 32 is first provided in the form of a blo-ck like body portion of any desired thickness. An opening 33 is formed in the element 32 to extend entirely therethrough, and the opening is of such a shape as to delineate the character which it is desired to depict upon the element, and the width of the opening 33 is also to be controlled or governed by the size of the character.

The lower portion of the opening 33 may then be filled with a suitable material 34 which terminates at any desired distance short of the top of t-he element. Into this opening 33 is then placed a filling material 35 which is of such a nature that it will clearly set out the character in the element 32.

rThe filling material 35 may also be con-n structed of resilient material and is preferably of the same degree of resiliency as the remaining portion of the body of the element 32.

ln Figure 9 is shown another method of producing the marker element proper and in this form of the invention the element 36 is provided with an opening 37 extending entirely therethrough. The element 36 is then placed upon another element 38, the latter being imperforate so as to form a closure for the opening 37. A lling material 39 which delineates the character on the marker is laced in the opening 37, and these parts may be secured together against separation in any suitable manner.

@bviously the element 32 may be formed by any other method.

rlhe element thus formed, which may be of a size to embody a single character or of a length to embody a plurality of characters, is then placed upon the plate or member 3G and secured thereto in any desired or suitable manner so that the two will be held against separation under all conditions.

The web or depending portion 31 may be provided with one or more openings 4() therethrough, according to the length of the web and into these openings 40 anchors 41 are adapted to be inserted. These anchors may be of any desired configuration, but are preferably slightly tapered so that they may be driven into the openings 40 to be frictionally held therein. The anchors 41 may be of any desired length so as to project for any desired distance beyond the lateral walls of the web 31, and the anchors are spaced from the lower surface of the plate 30 a sui'licient distance so that when the marker is inserted in the pavement 42 a portion of the pavement willbe disposed between the plates 30 and the anchors 41 and the latter will be embedded in the pavement to firmly secure the marker against accidental displacement.

The upper surface of the markers 32 when in position will be substantially flush with the upper surface of the pavement 42 and the marker elements being slightly resilient will readily yield with the adjacent portion of the pavement and any pressure exerted upon the pavement in proximity to the markers will be manifested upon the anchors 41, and this will assist in holding the marker elements against accidental displacement.

When the markers are made up of a plurality of separate units each comprising a character adapted to co-operate with the characters of other markers, they may be placed in a pavement so that the proximate edges of the adjacent markers will abut and in lieu of the anchors 41, a single anchor may be provided which will pass through the opening 40 in all of the Webs or depending portions 31 of the plates 30.

ln the form of the invention shown in F igure 10, the plate 30 is of a length to receive a plurality of the marker elements 32. and when this form of the invention is used, any number of the anchors 41 which pass through the openings 40, may be employed, as shown more clearly in Figure 16.

ln Figures 11 to 15 of the invention the plate 43, upon which the elements 32 are secured, is provided with depending flanges 44 at the opposite sides of the plate and these flanges are provided with openings 45 therethrough for the reception of anchor members 46 which pass therethrough.

ln Figure 12, the plate 43 is of a size to receive and have secured thereto a single marl?.- er element 32.

T'hen the marker element is constructed as shown in Figure 12, a plurality of these ele ments may be assembled to produce the desired signal or word and in that event the elements may be placed in the pavement 42 so as to produce the desired word or signal and these elements may be laterally spaced from each other as shown in Figures 13 and 15. When thus spaced the anchors 46 will pass through the registering openings 45 in the elements. TWhen thus used a portion of the pavement will pass between the adjacent elements and engage the exposed portions of the anchors 46 to embed them in the pavement and the portion of the pavement will also enter the space between the flanges 44 of the anchor plates 43.

lf desired and-as an additional means for assisting in holding the adjacent elements spaced from each other, spacing collars 47 may be sleeved upon the anchors 40 to engage the proximate depending flanges 44 of the adjacent elements.

lf desired the portions of the supporting plates and depending flanges may be coated with any suitable resilient material such as asphalt or the like, so that the joint between the pavement and the adjacent faces of the plates 30 and webs 31 will be maintained resilient.

In Figures 17 to 20, this invention is disclosed as being adapted for use as a paving joint to be extended lengthwise of the road bed or pavement to provide a weakening strip or breakage point in the pavement so that the pavement will readily expand and contract and at the same time will be prevented from cracking or breaking transversely of or across the pavement.

In this form of the invention the plate or member 30 is of a somewhat extended length and the element 48 is secured to the plate against detachment therefrom in any suitable manner, the element 48 being formed of any suitable material which will withstand considerable wear.

The marker thus provided is adapted to be embedded in the pavement 49 with the upper surface of the element 48 substantially flush with the adjacent upper surface of the pavement. Anchor members 50 passing through suitable apertures 51 in the web or depending portion 31 of the plate 30, are provided and are preferably of a length to extend beyond the' lateral edges of the web 31, although the anchor may be of any desired length. The usual reenforcing rods 52 and netting 53 which is incorporated in the construction of a pavement may be secured to the anchor members 50 in any suitable manner such as by means of ties 54 or any other suitable fastening means, and any number of anchors 50 may be employed.

In this form of the invention it will be noted that the anchors 50 are embedded in the pavement and not only serve as a means for assisting in anchoring the element 48 but they also serve as an anchor for the elements 52 and 53, as well as a support for the latter.

With this form of the invention the marker 48, together with the plate 30 and web 31V will form a weakening strip lengthwise of the pavement so as to permit the pavement to contract and expand, thereby preventing the pavementfrom cracking transversely.

If desired a coating 55 may be provided on the exposed faces of the plate 30 and the web 31.

' In Figures 21 and 23, another form of the invention is shown wherein the same is emloyed in a manner similar tothe form shown in Figures 17 to 20. y

In this latter form of the invention there is provided an extension 56 which may be of any desired construction, but is preferably of an elongated substantially U shaped construction, of a shape that the web 31 of the plate 30 will passbetween the walls of the elements 56, and the anchors 57 which pass through the openings 58 in the web 31 also pass through registering openings 59 in the element 56 so as to secure the element 56 and the web 31 together. The web 31 terminates a considerable distance short of the base 60 of the element 56 so as to form a space within the element 56 and between the web and the base 60 of the element. This'space is illed with any suitable material 61 of a resilient nature, such as asphalt or the like and the extension is of a length that it will extend into and will be embedded within thesubbase 62 of the pavement 63.

` In this form of the invention as in the form shown in Figures 17 to- 20, the anchor serves as a support and also as an anchor for the rods 52 and reticulated material 53 usually embedded in a pavement of this character.

A coating 64 may also be provided on the exposed outer surfaces of the element 56 as well as the plate 30.

In Figure 23, there is shown a slightly modified form of the invention shown in Figure 22 and in this form the element 65 corresponding with the element 56, is slightly enlarged so as to provide a larger space for the filling material 66. The anchors 67 are also of a slightly different shape for supporting the rods '52 and reticulated material 53. i

A coating 68 may also be provided upon the exposed surfaces of these parts to maintain the desired degree of resiliency.

' With this invention it will be manifest that the same may be employed either as a marker or as a dividing or weakening strip alon 'a pavement and when in position the mar er will be clearly visible and when employed as a weakening or dividing strip, the portion of the pavement adjacent thereto will readily yield so as to prevent cracking of the pavement transverse to the length thereof.

While the preferred forms of the invention have been herein shown and described, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the ,several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. A road marker embodying a substantially horizontal elastic body portion, an anchor plate upon which the body portion is secured, said body portion being substantially co-extensive with the supporting face of the plate, a projection depending from the lower face of said plate, there being an opening through the said projection, and an anchor seated in said openingand projecting beyond the lateral faces of said projection,

all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper face of said body portion substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the surface of said pavement.

2. A road marker embodying a substantially horizontal base plate of non-resilient material, a web like projection connected with and depending below said plate, said projection being substantially co-eXtensive with the length of said plate and having one or more openings extending transversely therethrough and spaced for a considerable distance below the plate, a marker embodying an elastic body portion secured to and substantially co-extensive with the face of said plate, and an anchor bar seated in the said opening and projecting for considerable distance beyond the lateral faces of said projection, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper surface of the marker body substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the upper face of the pavement.

3. A road marker embodying a body portion, an anchor plate upon which the body portion is secured, a projection depending from the lower face of said plate, there being au opening through the said projection, an anchor seated in said opening and projecting beyond the lateral faces of said projection` all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper face of said body portion substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the surface of said pavement, and a resilient coating for the faces of the plate and projection with which portions of the pavement contact.

4. A road marker embodying a base plate of nou-resilient material, a web like projection connected with and depending below said plate, said projection being substantially co-extensive with the length of said plate and having one or more openings extending transversely therethrough and spaced for a considerable distance below the plate, a marker embodying a resilientl body portion secured to the face of said plate, an anchor bar seated in the said opening and projecting for a considerable distance beyond the lateral faces of said projection, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper surface of the marker body substantially flush with the adjacent portion of the upper face of the pavement, and a coating of resilient material for the face of the plate and said projection with which portions of the pavement contact.

5. A device of the character described embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web like projection connected with and depending below said plate, a resilient body secured to the plate, there being one or more openings through said web and spaced below the plate, an anchor seated in each of said openings and projecting beyond the lateral faces of said web, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in the pavement with the upper face of said body substantially flush with the adjacent upper surface of the pavement, in combination with a separate and independent reinforcing element embedded in the pavement, the said anchor also serving as a support and anchor for the said reinforcing element.

6. A device of the character described embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web like projection connected with and depending below said plate, a resilient body secured to the plate, there being one or more openings through said web and spaced below the plate, an anchor seated in each of said openings and projecting beyond the lateral faces of said web, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in the pavement with the upper face of said body substantially flush with the adjacent upper surface of the pavement, in combination with a sepa rate and independent reinforcing element embedded in the pavement, and means connecting'the said reinforcing element with the said anchor.

7 A device of the character described embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web like projection connected with and depending below said plate, a resilient body secured to the plate, there being one or more openings through said web and spaced below the plate, an anchor seated in each of said openings and projecting beyond the lateral faces of said web, all of said parts being adapted' to be embedded in the pavement with the upper face of said body substantially flush with the adjacent upper surface of the pavement, in combination with a separate and independent reinforcing element embedded in the pavement, the said anchor also serving as a. support and anchor for the said reinforcing element, and a resilient material coating for the face of the said plate and with which the pavement has contact. I 8. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete pavements and -the like embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web connected to and depending below the plate, a resilient body portion secured to the plate, and a resilient formation connected with and depending below said web, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper surface of said body portion substantially flush with the upper surface of the adjacent portion of the pavement.

9. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete pavements and the like embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web connected to and depending below the plate, a resilient body portion secured to the plate, a resilient formation connected with and depending below said web, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper surface of said body portion substantially flush with the upper surface of the adjacent portion of the pavement, and a resilient coating for the portions of the plate and web with which the pavement has contact.

10. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete pavements andthe like embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web connected to and depending below the plate, a resilient body portion secured to the plate, and a resilient formation connected with and depending below said web, all of said parts being adapted to be embedded in a pavement with the upper surface of said body portion substantially flush with the upper surface of, the adjacent portion of the pavement, the said resilient formation extending through and below the pavement and into the sub base for the pavement.

11. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete pavements and the like embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a

web connected to anddepending below the plate, a resilient body portion secured to the plate, a resilient formation connected with and depending below'. the said web, said formation embodying a closed shell like formation, and resilient material filling the shell.

12. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete pavements and the like embodying a base plate of non-resilient material, a web connected to and depending below the plate,

;a resilient body portion secured to the plate,

a resilient formation connected with anddepending below the said web, said formation embodying a closed shell like formation, re-

and said grilll sections being yoked together by reinforcing bars, and a separating strip vertically supported by said bars.

17. In a concrete road, sections of grill Work embedded horizontally in the concrete, rods attached to the grill sections, and a joint defining strip secured in place by said rods.

18. A concrete surfacing structure having reinforcement embedded therein, and a joint defining strip extending over said reinforcement, the reinforcement including rods for holding the strip in place.

19. A concrete surfacing structure reinforcement, and a joint defining strip, extending thereover, said reinforcement including rods for holding the strip in place.

20. A concrete surfacing structure having joint means and reinforcement embedded therein, said reinforcement including rods engaging said jQnt means for holding same 1n position. A

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 28th day of January, A. D. 1927.

JAMES RAYMOND OBRIEN.

silient material filling the shell, and an anchor member passing through the structure below said plate and transversely with respect to and extending beyond the lateral faces of said web. l

13. An expansion and contraction joint for concrete paving comprising a strip of nonresilient material and a laterally resilient formation connected with the strip and depending therebelow, the concrete having direct contact with said strip and formation, said formation embodying a closed shell like structure and resilient material substantially filling said shell. l

14. A'road marker embodying an elastic body portion, a substantially horizontal anchor plate upon which the body portion is secured, said body portion being substantiali ly co-extensive with the supporting surface of said plate, and a projection depending from the lower face of the plate, there being an opening through said projection for the reception of an anchor element.

'15. In a concrete road, sections of grill work embedded horizontally in the concrete and said grill sections being yoked together by reinforcing bars, and a separating strip vertically supported by said bars above the grill work.

16. In a concrete road, sections of grill work embedded horizontally in the concrete 

